Doctor denies manipulating vaccine data

A British doctor says he did not manipulate data that concluded vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella potentially could cause autism.

Publication of Andrew Wakefield’s research a decade ago is linked to a 12 percent drop in the number of children being vaccinated in Britain, The Sunday Times of London reported.

Because fewer parents let their children be vaccinated, England and Wales last year saw 1,348 cases of measles with two deaths, compared with 56 cases and no deaths in 1998, The Times reported.

Wakefield, who is under investigation by British health authorities, has dismissed documents alleging he manipulated patients’ data to show a link between vaccines and autism, the British newspaper reported.

Wakefield is being investigated for professional misconduct along with John Walker-Smith and Simon Murch, two professors who contributed to the research. All three have denied any wrongdoing.